New synergistic benzoquinone scaffolds as inhibitors of mycobacterial cytochrome bc1 complex to treat multi-drug resistant tuberculosis.

Through a comprehensive molecular docking study, a unique series of naphthoquinones clubbed azetidinone scaffolds was arrived with promising binding affinity to Mycobacterial Cytbc1 complex, a drug target chosen to kill multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-Mtb). Five compounds from series-2, 2a, 2c, 2g, 2h, and 2j, showcased significant in vitro anti-tubercular activities against Mtb HRv and MDR clinical isolates. Further, synergistic studies of these compounds in combination with INH and RIF revealed a potent bactericidal effect of compound 2a at concentration of 0.

Denigrins A-C: new antitubercular 3,4-diarylpyrrole alkaloids from Dendrilla nigra.

Chemical diversity is vital to antitubercular drug discovery as it ensures a novel bioactivity profile. Marine sponges have so far provided more than 1000 new bioactive molecules. Ethyl acetate extract of the marine sponge Dendrilla nigra on bioactivity-guided screening yielded three new compounds denigrins A-C, with potent antitubercular activity.